Gauge



Oct. 17, 1939. M. KLEIN ET AL GAUGE Filed May 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Jada/A. 707/9 0'0/7 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 GAUGE Maximilian Klein andReidar A. Tollei'sen, Sellersviile,

Pa., assignors to United States Gauge Company, Sellersville, Pa., acorporation or Pennsylvania Application May 22, 1936, Serial No. 81.330

'i'he present invention ,relates to novel telltale indicator meansdesigned for use as an adjunct to pressure gauges, thermometers, vacuumgauges and other like indicators.

locked against unauthorized inspection and tampering and accessible onlyto an authorized person in order to determine whether the system uponwhich the gauge is mounted has at any I time been operated at excessiveor inadequate pressures, temperatures or the like, and the amount ofsuch excesses or inadequacies,

In order to clearly understand the present improvement, it will bedescribed in connection with a house heating system which constitutes apreferred use of the novel indicator. In present day sales of heatingsystems, ties for the vendor to guarantee thesystem against defects inmaterial. To protect himself against unjust claims, the vendor specifiesthe maximum pressure to which the system is, to be subjected. In manycases replacements, in accordence with the guarantee, have been made,when as a matter of fact, the injury resulted from the improperoperation of the system and not from defects in material. Suchreplacements have necessitated because of the vendors inability to showthe improper use of the system. This inability to prove the improper useof the system has not been eliminated by the provision of existingtell-tale indicators since they are visible to the operator of thesystem and are readily accessible to unprincipled' operators who may setthem back within the pemiissible'pressure range and thus defeat thepurpose of the tell-tale indicator.

' It is, therefore, a major object of the present invention to providea. pressure gauge, vacuum gauge, thermometer or the like with an adjunctdesigned to indicate excessive or inadequate pressures, temperatures,etc., which is not visible to the operator and is sealed'by a means theremoval of which will be immediately apparent to the vendors authorizedinspector. I

Another object of the present invention resides in providing a pressuregauge or the like with a tell-tale pointer that is mounted on the framework of the conventional gauge movement to form a unitaryassembly'designed for bodilyinsertion .in the casing behind the dial ple, v

' A further object of the present nvention consists in providing aconventional Zdial plate with a graduated scale on its rear f cedesignedv to pointer ca'rried'by cooperate with the tell-tale Morespecifically, the present invention relates to the provi-- stop or aconcealed tell-tale indicator sealed or it is common prac- 8 Claims.(01. 116-129) ,7 I

the indicator'movement, in order that the maxiniumindications of thevariables attained in the system upon which theindicator is used may beconveniently ascertained by the authorized in specter upon breaking theseal and removing the 6 protecting casing.

Still another object of the present invention resides in providing aninstrument, designed to indicate the instantaneous values of a variableby means ment, with means for operating a maximum in'- dicator by anelement of the instantaneous indicaior movement designed for normalmovemen A ,further object of the present invention resides in providingthe segment gear of a conventional Bourdon tube indicating instrumentwith an upstanding pin designed to move in the path of a tell-talepointer to cause said tell-tale pointer to move over an auxiliary scaleand in- Q0 dicate the maximum reading of the instrument. Another objectof thepresent invention resides in providing an indicator of the dialand pointer type with a concealed scale and pointer designed to indicatethe maximum reading of the indicator.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing anindicator of the dial and pointer type provided with amaidmum indicatorwith novel means designed mum indicator under yielding frictionalpressure in its indicating position while permitting relativelyunimpededmovement by the actuating mechanism.

sun another object of the present invention as resides in providing'a'pressure gauge with a tell-tale indicator pointer, mountedconcentrically with the arbor of the gear segment of a conventional dialand pointer indicator .to eflect a simple operating connection whilemaintain- 40 ing the tell-tale indicator in concealment within theprotecting instrument casing.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing a novelcombined pivotal connection and arbor bearing for the tell-tale pointer"and segment arbor.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description when studied inconnection with the appended claims and attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a dial and pointer indicator with certain ofthe parts removed to show more clearly the present invention,

Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view taken on line 2-'2 of Figure 1looking in the direction of u of a pointer having a magnified move- 10to retain the maxi- 30 the arrows and showing the instrument of Figure 1with the omitted parts in place,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing the relation of the tell-talescale and pointer of the present invention to the conventional indicatorstructure,

Figure 4 is a detail view disclosing the unitary assembly of theinstrument movement and the tell-tale pointer of the present inventionas embodied in the instrument illustrated in Figure 1, l p V Figure 5 isa sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4 showing the novel arborbearing and tell-tale pointer; mounting of the present invention,

Figure 6 is a detailed view of the bushing which forms the bearing forthe arbor and the pivot'for the tell-tale pointer, I

Figure '7 is adetailed view of the bushing which carries the tell-talepointer and pivotally cooperates with the bushing of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a detailed view of the spring iwasher which yieldinglymaintains the bushings of Figures 6 and 7 in contact to preventaccidental rotation of the tell-tale pointer and,

Figur 9 is a ffagmental elevational view of the sealing means used toprevent unauthorized accws to the auxiliary scale and tell-tale pointer.

With continued reference to the drawings wherein like reference numeralsare used to indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, thenumeral 10 indicates a combined temperature and pressure gauge of theBourdon tube type embodying the novel improvement of the presentinvention. Gauge Ill includes a easing H having a slot 12 thereindesigned to receive a hollow mounting post l3 of conventional design. ABourdon tube I4 is connected to post iii in any well-known manner andits free end I5 is provided with a connector l6 designed for operativeconnection to a link l1 forming a part of a conventional gauge movementl8.

' Movement 18 includes a gear segment l8 connected at 20 with the freeend of link I! and mounted for rotation with an arbor 2| which issupported in suitable bearings in front and rear frame plates 22 and 23,respectively. Suitable bolt assemblies 24 to retain plates 22 and 23 inassembled relation. A pinion gear 25 de- Aperture 28 is provided with ahollow bushing.

85.-which carries a pointer 36. Pointer 36 is adapted to be manually setto indicate the maximum pressure within which the system containing thegauge I0 is designed to operate. One end of shaft 26 is designed toproject through bushing and is provided. with an indicator pointer 38which is designed to rotate over dial plate 21 in well known manner.Pinion 25 and gear segment i8 cause rotation of pointer 38 in accordancewith movement of Bourdon tube [4 as the pressure within tube l4 varies.Dueto the provision of pinion 25 and segment, is the movement of pointer38 will be greatly magnified and as a consequence the usualscale'provided on the face of dial 2! may be divided into readilydiscernible divisions. A suitable hair spring 4! is provided forinsuring smooth, regular, rotation of shaft 26 and pointer 38 and foraiding in returning pointer 38 toward its zero position when thepressure in tube i4 is reduced.

As heretofore pointed out gauge I8 is a combination temperature andpressure instrument,

therefore, a pointer 42 is provided and designed for clockwise movementto indicate changes of temperature on a scale on dial plate 21. Pointer42 is rotatably carried on an arbor 43 which is supported on mountingpost I3 and extends through an aperture 44 in dial plate 21. Abimetallic strip 45 extending through hollow post l3 into the pressuremedium is provided for actuating pointer 42. Strip 45 contacts anextending arm 46 provided on a hub 41 connected to and rotatable witharbor 43. Strip 45 is designed to flex in a counter-clockwise directionupon an increase in temperature. Due to this movement of strip 45, itwill be clear that strip 45 moves away from arm 46 permitting" a hairspring 48 to cause clockwise rotation of pointer 42 over dial plate 21.Since strip 45 is at all times in the path of and just ahead of arm 46,it-will be clear that rotation of pointer 42 is always under control ofstrip 45.

The structure so far described, with the ex- I ception of pointer 36,forms no part of the presand operating link ll of gauge movement I8and-be housed'within casing H behind and conconstruction of the noveltelltale indicator provided by the present invention the pivot of pointer is preferably aligned with arbor 2| of seg-' ment l8. This isaccomplished by providing plate 22 with an enlarged aperture 51 whichreceives a hub v58 of a bearing bushing 58. Bush ing 59 fits snugly inaperture 51 and is spun so that the end of hub 58 lies flush with therear face 6|" of plate 22. Hub 58 is smooth and free of burrs on itsexposed end and is suitably reamed after its connection to plate 22 inorder to provide the bearing for the forward end of arbor 2!." The rearbearing is formed in the usual manner in plate 23. l

A transversely extending flange 62 is formed on bushing 59 and isdesigned to lie flush against the front face of plate 22. Bushing 58extends forwardly beyond flange '62 to 'form a portion 63.

' sealed by dial plate 21. In order to simplify the The outercylindrical surface of portion 63 and flange 62 are machined in the samemanner as the above mentioned portions of bushing 58. A spring washer 66having radially extending, olfbushing 64 and the surface of flange 65adjacent set, spring legs 61 is positioned on portion 63 of bushing 59with its legs 61 in engagement with flange 65 of bushing 64. A. nut 68is screwthreadedly secured to suitable threads formed I on portion 5301' bushing 59 and is designed to abut washer 66 and force bushing 64along portion 63 of bushing 59 and retain the machined surfaces ofbushings 59 and 84 in frictional contact. It will be apparent that thefrictional conreadily apparent thatthe conventional gauge pressures towhich the gauge is subjected. This -movement and the adiunct' in theform of a rotatable pointer and arbor bearingassembly form unit 56 whichis bodilyiisecured to post I: by screws H which passthroughapertures' 12in plate 23v and threadedly'engag'e suitably tapped apertures .in posti3;

Pointer 55 as seen in'jFlgures; 1 and 4 extends toward the left of arbor2i and overlies the path of movement ofgear-segment i9. Asu itablepin issecured in 'se'grnent iii'and projects above the upper face of segmentinto'the' path of 1 pointer 55. A suit'able recess 15' in' plate '22permits unimpeded movement of pin 14: A stop pin, 15 is provided onplate 22 for limiting clockwise movement orpointer 55. a A suitablescale '|1 is formed onthe rear of dial plate 21 and .is designed tocooperate with'pointer 55. a

- .Scale 11 is' gra duated to indicate a portion-only of the pressureindicatedbyipointer 38 and is preferably designed to indicate only theupper scale, since it is traversed by pointer 55 which rotates at'aslower speed than pointer 88, due to the absence of the gearedconnection, is more compact and the rangeof pressure per unit of arc.

is greater. The purpose of this novel construction of scale 11 is topermit the greatest possible pressure range to be indicated in the smallavailable sight space in, the rear of the dial plate 21.

After unit 56 is secured to post I3 the post with the attached operatingelements of gauge i0 secured there'to is inserted and secured in casingH by placing post l3 in slot i2'and inserting screws 18 intothreadedapertures 19 formed in the rear face of post i 3. Asealing wire8| is inserted through transverse holes 82 in screws 18 and thefree endsare secured by a seal 83.

This sealing structure locks the gauge parts within casing ii andprevents unauthorized accessto tell-tale'pointer 55. A conventionalbezel and crystal assembly 84 placedover the open side of casing Hcompletes gauge l0.

Gauge i0 operates as follows: as the pressure increases Bourdon tube i4flexes and through .link I! rotates gear segment 19 .in' acounterindicated by hand clockwise direction. Pinion '25 as aconsequence is rotated in a clockwise direction carrying point-, er 38over-the scale on dial plate 21 thereby indicating the instantaneousvalue of thepressure. Due to the aforementioned gear reduction efiectedby segment 19 and pinion 25 the movement of pointer 38 is materiallymagnified and very slight pressure variations are readily readable fromthe conventional scale on dial plate 21. So lang-as the pressure remainswithin the limits no movement of pointer 55.will,take place sincepointer is initially set to indicate the pressure at which pointer 36 isset. This action will be apparent from an inspection 01' Figure 4wherein pointer 55 is shown in its normal position as set at the timegauge I 0 isv connected in the system. Actuating pin pointer 55, isdisposed H, due to the setting of v pin 15 is designed to .ings 59'and54 by Washer will that .is concealed from the move in a clockwisedirection under the influence of Bourbon tube It and hair spring I andpin 14 will move out of contact with pointer 55 leaving pointer 55 atits maximum indicating position. iThe frictional resistance imparted tobushm'aintain pointer 55" against accidental movement and therebymaintain the pointer in its indicating position until an authorizedperson resets it or when the pressure exceeds the predetermined maximum.Fromthe above description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides a simple, rugged and;accurate maximum pressureindicator I I view of unauthorized persons and sealedlagainst tampering.By the provision of this novel structure applicant has provided aneiiicient tell-tale device that permits manufacturers of pressure andlike systems to accurately determine whether or not their systems, havebeen abused and to indicate the extent of such abuse. With the gauge ofthe present invention installed in a heating system or the like,unprincipled users of pressure and temperature systems cannot makeunjust claims against guarantees of the manufacturers of such systems.While the present invention has been described as a tell-tale forindicating the maximum pressure, it 'will be apparent that it may beused to indicate maximum temperatures or maximum vacuum values by slightalterations in the manner in which it is assembled with'respect to theoperating parts of the different indicating instruments.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodimentis therefore to be ccnsideredin all .having a window therein,responsive means in said casing subject to instantaneous changes in avariable, means including, a dial plate bearing a graduated scaledisposed in said casing and exposed to view through said window, apointer cooperating with said scale for indicating instantaneous valuesof said variable, mechanism operatively connecting said responsive meansand said pointer, said second mentioned means also bearing a secondgraduated scale hidden from view by said casing and said dial plate, asecond pointer cooperating with said last mentioned scale for indicatingpredetermined values of said variable, mounting means for said second"pointer, said second pointer and its mounting means being disposedentirely behind said dial plate, and

means on said mechanism for actuating said second pointer only when thevariable reaches said predetermined values whereby only authorizedpersons may determine whether said predetermined values have beenreached.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 where in said second graduatedscale is formed on the rear face of said dial plate.

3. In an indicating instrument embodying a pressure responsive element,the combination of a gear segment designed for operation by saidelement, an arbor designed to carry said gear segment, a frameworksupporting said arbor, a bushing carried by said framework in concentricrelation to said arbor, a journal bearing formed in said bushing anddesigned to form a bearing for one end of said arbor, a hub formed onsaid bushing and an indicator pointer rotatably supported on said hub.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said gear segment isprovided with a pin designed to contact and move said pointer throughouta predetermined pressure range.

5. A mounting for an indicator pointer comprising a stationary bushing,a pointer hand, a

second bushing rotatably mounted on said first mentioned bushing anddesigned to carry said hand, said bushings having superposedtransversely extending contacting flanges the engaging surfaces of whichare machined to permit rotation of said hand without objectionalretardation and means for yieldingly binding said bushings innon-rotatable relation whereby inadvertentv movement of said hand isprevented.

6. A combined spindle bearing and mounting for an indicator pointercomprising a stationary bushing having a transversely disposed outwardlyextending flange and a bearing formation ad-- against said flange tobind said bushings in non-' rotatable relation whereby inadvertentmovement amaaea of said hand is prevented, said means comprising aspring washer and a nut designed to vary the binding force of saidwasher whereby the retarding engagement of said bushings may beadjusted.

'7. A mounting for an indicator pointer comprising a pair of relativelyrotatable bushings, a hand secured to and rotatable with one of saidbushings, spring means mounted on one of said bushings and designed toengage said other bushing and force it into contact with a portion ofsaid one bushing to prevent inadvertent relative rotation, a nutdesigned to vary the binding force of said spring means and means on oneof said bushings designedto lock said nut and prevent inadvertentloosening of said nut and consequent variation of said binding force.

8. An indicator responsive to a variable such as pressure, temperatureor the like, attained in the operation of heating or analogous systems,

comprising a casing having an open face, means I in said casingresponsive to the instantaneous value of said variable, means including,a dial nism interconnecting said responsive means and said pointer foroperating said pointer, said second mentioned means also bearing asecond scale housed by said casing and disposed behind said dial plateto conceal it from view from the outside of said indicator, a secondpointer cooperating with said last mentioned scale and designed toindicate values of said variable beyond the normal range specified forthe particular system, mounting means for said second vpointer, saidsecond pointer and its mounting means being disposed entirely behindsaid dial plate, and means forming a part of said mechanism foroperating said last mentioned pointer only when the normal range of thesystem is exceeded whereby only authorized persons may determine whetherthe system has been improperly operated.

MAIHMILIAN KLEIN. REHJAR A. TOILEFSEN.

